Aditya.

"We just walked to the trap!" Varsha panicked.

"Shh.." I said and grabbed her hand. "Hide" I said.

So both of us ran out of the room.

"This way!" Varsha said and I followed her again. We reached the terrace of her house and she guided me to hide in the terrace garden.

Both of us listened hard and started to hear voices.

"Don't alert the neighbours or police"

"But there's no signs of anyone here! The front and back doors are locked, I already questioned the watchman and he doesn't know anything "

"Don't complain and look around, Sir told us that varsha is here!" The leader guy said. "He said he's on his way here" He added.

Varsha.

I still can't believe what's going on, How can they know that I am here-

Sam!

My heart trembled as theories started to form in my head.

Sam knows the secret way inside, When my papa was missing, We have used the way countless time, He must have installed some sort of alarm to know if I visit my house!

"Aditya, I think I know-"

"Sam" Aditya gritted his teeth, "I figured that much, He's working for surya group" He said. "but that also means that we need to move"

"What do you mean?"

"He knows you well, Varsha, It's a matter of time before they reach here" He said.

Varsha.

"But I cant-" I stopped midway, Unable to complete my sentence.

There were sounds from the nearest room.

"There's no one here" One guy shouted.

"Nor here, No one is hiding upstairs" Another guy called out.

"The terrace" Someone said and we both froze.

"Shh..relax" Aditya said, holding my hand tightly. "I won't let you get hurt" He added.

I don't want you to get hurt, It's my fault that I wanted to come here.

we waited, Tensed.

I could hear people coming towards us.

Aditya tightened the hold on my hand and I clutched him unknowingly.

Suddenly there was an engine sound from outside.

"Sir is here" the leader guy said and footsteps retreated back.

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Aditya.."

"Shh..come on" He dragged me out of there. "We need to move before they come back here"

"Let's inform police" I said. "Call suresh sir-"

"They can't rescue us, We don't have time"

But I can't hide in closed dark places! I am still afraid of darkness, That's why I selected the terrace to hide.

"But I am..I can't-"

"Trust me varsha, They don't suspect any danger now, We need to make them go back"

"But how?"

"They are assuming that we are here, We need to make sure that they can't find us here" He said. "Think about it, Varsha, What's the most unlikely place for you to hide? A place where sam can't guess?" He asked me.

A place where sam cannot find?

But sam knows everything about me!

I shook my head "He's my childhood friend, He knows everything in my house"

"Then we can't just stay here, Come on"

We walked inside the room and looked around.

"You..you are going to get in trouble because of me" I said. "I am sorry"

"Shh.." Aditya was listening now.

I too moved near the door.

"-No one, We searched all the places you told us to, There's no one here"

"Why did you bring them here, Sam?" I heard watchman uncle’s voice.

"Didn't I tell you to look after the house well? What if varsha come home and need help? She couldn't even attend her papa's funeral, We need to help her uncle" Sam said.

I fisted my hands tightly and gritted my teeth.

He's manipulating the old man to do his bids!

"I know, I am keeping an eye out for her, When Varsha molu is back, I will definitely help her"

"And you must call me, She's not in her right mind, Remember"

"I know, I will call you right away" Uncle said again.

My blood boiled at that.

"That bloody-"

"Varsha, Now is not the time" Aditya said.

"Did you search the terrace and all?" Sam asked the other guys and they moved upstairs.

"Come on!" Aditya dragged me to the nearest wardrobe in the room.

"We can't hide there! We can't fit in-"

I stopped as he dragged me to the cupboard and closed the door after us.

Darkness engulfed us and I touched my heart.

I tried to hold it, I really did, But I felt like someone has suddenly pressed on my windpipe.

"Breath" Aditya said. "Think of something happy" He added While shifting his body slightly so that a tiny ray of light was coming through the edge.

I was surprised at his words.

How come he know about my fear of darkness?

I looked up at him and realised that we are too close, I hadn't realised that we were pressed to each other.

I jumped back, But unfortunately, There was no space and I couldn't do anything about it.

"Relax" Aditya said. "listen" he added.

We heard them searching the terrace now.

"There's no one here sir" they reported to sam.

Their sounds were awfully close and I stayed there inside the cupboard as a statue, Concentrating on the tiny ray of light leaking inside.

"Here-" someone opened the door to our room.

"I have already searched here" One guy said. "Nothing suspicious" He added.

"Stay back everyone" Sam ordered. "If varsha is indeed here, I have a way to find her"

He said and something in his voice told me that he's confident, Dread filled me.

I shivered as Aditya took hold of my hand.

"Turn all the lights out, Every single one" He ordered and my heart exploded.

Sam knows my weakness! I never switched off the lights after that incident, He was with me in the hospital.

"Aditya-"

"Shh.." Aditya said. "Relax, I am here with you"

Suddenly all the lights went out and I started to panic.

I could feel Aditya holding me closer, Trying to console me, But nothing was helping me.

I felt the tightness in my chest and unable to breath normally.

"Varsha, Breath" Aditya whispered in my ear, His voice pleading.

I tried to, But I couldn't do it.

I closed my mouth tightly with both of my hands to prevent any sounds from escaping me.

I know that if I give our position away, Aditya will be in danger too..

I need to hold it...

It doesn't matter if something happen to me, But I absolutely cannot endanger Aditya.

Suddenly, I felt my hands being lifted up and he placed it against his heart.

"Listen, Count the heartbeats" He said "Varsha, Count it, Listen to it" He said desperately.

But how..

His heartbeat was strong and steady.

I closed my eyes and imagined the sunny day at the estate house.

One..two...three..

All of us are picnicking in the bright light.

Everyone is happy.

Ten..eleven..twelve...

There's no more surya group or the fights.

Fifteen..sixteen..

My papa is there with me.

Twenty..twentyone..

"Ok, There's no one" Suddenly sam said. "Switch on the lights" He announced and walked back.

Within five minutes, There were sounds from outside as everyone took their bikes and car.

I pushed the door open and would have collapsed down if it was not for Aditya who prevented the fall, I tried to take deep breath.

"You did well..now relax" Aditya was holding me while I tried to inhale the air.

"Here" He took me a plastic cover that was in the side and held it in front of my mouth and nose "Take it easy, You are hyperventilating!"

I was halfway to collapse and I gasped and took deep breaths.

Aditya was still encouraging me and consoling me.

I slowly calmed down and leaned back to the wall.

Aditya was still looking so much concerned.

"Now..Now you know why we cannot be together, Aditya, I almost got you killed today" I said firmly. "you deserve someone better-"

I stopped as I felt him hugging me tightly.

He was trembling from head to foot, He looked shaken.

"You are safe..thank God" He kept on murmuring.

"Aditya!"

"From the moment I first laid my eyes on you, It has been like this" he said. "If something happen to you, I am suffering it, I don't know how or why, But I have some kind of attachment to you, I am showing signs of PTSD whenever you are in danger"

"What..what does it mean?"

"It means that you should be safe, It also means that you should stick close to me" He added as he kissed me on the forehead. "Listen to me, Varsha"

Arjun.

I was feeling rather relaxed when I walked to the conference room.

I know everything will be quiet today.

Father hadn't reached yet and Everyone was waiting for him.

Abiram looked at me challengingly.

"I heard that you have a girlfriend?" He asked me.

Pramod and Raghav sir turned to me, Looking curious.

"Yea, What about her?" I asked back and all of them looked taken aback.

"You..you really have a girlfriend!?" Pramod asked me again.

"She's my fiancée now" I shrugged.

"Why are you not bringing her out?" Abiram asked me. "From which family she is?"

"I don't want to scare her away, Does it matter from which family she is?"

"Don't tell me that you are together because of love" Abiram laughed at his own joke.

"I care about her" I looked straight back at him. "So you better keep your men far away too, I won't tolerate anything like last time" I said.

All of them gaped at me like I have grown another head.

Father entered the conference room followed by SI thomas.

SI Thomas has recently reinstated in his station after the suspension.

What's he doing here again?

Soon the meeting started.

"How's the planning going?" Father asked.

"Everything has been taken care of"

"Even the invincible Officer Suresh doesn't suspect anything"

They all started to talk about the plan and I rocked slightly in my chair.

"I got the location of the meeting" SI thomas said and I stilled. "They are going to meet at ACP suresh kumar's house" He said. "He invited the DIB for a meal, So nobody suspect anything" He added.

Location of the meeting?..

Isn't it supposed to be cancelled now?..

Or sanjana hasn't been to her secret room yet? Is she waiting for the last moment to take the necessary files?

But According to my knowledge on her, She's the kind to keep everything meticulous and ready!

"I already arranged everything" Father said. "So Keep it clean, Officer suresh shot Trishana Accidentally while she was trying to report him and He killed himself after that" Father said.

Thomas nodded.

"Don't worry about it" He said. "The police officers who reach there first will be our men, We can tamper with the case however we want"

"Officer suresh lives with his wife" Raghav sir said.

"I already checked the schedule, She has a charity event to attend that evening, No one will be home then" I spoke up.

I have done everything to help with their plan, Except that I believed It will be cancelled.

"Excellent!" Thomas said. "I was suspended because of that reporter" He said. "Now she will get what she deserves"

So after the meeting was over, I walked out.

Where's sanjana now?

I dialled her as soon as I reached my office.

But the call didn't go through.

"Karan" I called him. "Is there any news from our men who is taking watch?" I asked.

"yes, Trishana and one of her friends visited her home and left after about 90 minutes" He said.

So she knows already...

"Okay" I said.

"Sir" Karan said. "I heard that Abiram is going to kill priyanka the same day suresh kumar and trishana is supposed to get trapped" He said. "He sure knows how to take advantage of situations, No wonder he survived until now" karan said.

"Keep watch of him" I said. "He looked very interested in my girlfriend" I said.

"Uh! What are we going to do?" he asked.

"Don't worry, he can't even guess who it is" I said. "But I have to go now" I said. "It's time for me to meet the directors of surya hotels" I said and he nodded.

After Mahesh was out, They have been too restless.

But while I was walking out, My father's secretary stopped me.

"Your father would like to see you in his office, Sir" She said respectfully.

"I will be there" I said.

I am sure that he wants to talk about the palace group now, He would like to know if I have taken care of the "misunderstanding" between us regarding Mr.Abraham's case.

.................

Varsha.

I waited at the foot of the stairs that lead to the storage room.

It has been cleaned out and turned to be a project room now.

Trishana had been locked up inside the room ever since she returned home yesterday.

She hasn't come out even to have her breakfast and I am here to bring her brunch.

"Leave it outside the door, She will take it when she need it" Aditya said from behind me, Looking at the food I had in my hand.

Now..that's a good idea!

Everyone was aware that she was in a foul mood since she lost all of her files.

So I tiptoed up and left the food outside and walked down.

Aditya was still waiting for me.

"You are okay now?" He asked me.

I know what he is asking me about is not my physical well being now.

Both of us have decided to keep yesterday's incident to ourselves, Aditya was very angry and wanted to go after sam, But I didn't want my weakness to be exposed.

Everyone thinks that I am recovering fine, So I don't want to distract them or worry them at this important time.

"I'm fine" I smiled as we walked outside.

"I am glad to hear that" He said as We reached the hall. "Um..I have something for you" He said and I stopped.

I watched as he took out a box and opened it. A silver coloured chain with a small round pendant was inside it.

"Er..Aditya" I said. "I know that you have been..very considerate of me" I said.

He looked surprised.

Yes, I have been aware of him silently helping me and supporting me all these while.

"But I really can't accept your confession or this gift from you" I said firmly.

I need to make him see things.

"This gift has nothing to do with the confession" Aditya said quickly. "It's just a..a simple gift"

"But-" I stopped as he took the chain outside and instead of wearing it around my neck, He took my hand.

"Aditya-"

"Wait" He said firmly while he wrapped it around my wrist like a bracelet.

The tiny bead was the only thing that hang down.

It was lovely, But I know that I can't accept it.

He took hold of the siver bead and moved it slightly and I was astounded to see the tiny ray of light coming out.

I looked at him, Touched and speechless.

"Actually, I prepared this..some time before" He said. "I wanted to give you, I hesitated because I thought you wouldn't like it if you know that I know your secret" He added.

"How..how did you know about my fear..of darkness?" I asked him while trying to control the tears.

"Skylines..when..when karthik cut the power off to help us, You..You had an attack" He said. "I am.. a doctor, Varsha" He said.

I wiped my eyes quickly and nodded.

"I..will accept this" I told him. "Because I don't want to put anyone in danger anymore" I said.

Aditya looked happy suddenly.

"I am glad that I met you varsha" He said. "You are the strongest person I have ever seen" He added. "I admire you for that"

"Even though I want to destroy sam and hate him with every fibre in me, I promise you that I will never put myself or you guys in danger again" I said. "You have at least taught me that, Aditya, That my life is important too" I said.

He nodded and realised that he had been worried about me all these time.

Worried if I would go after sam like I have done to Mahesh, worried if I would put myself in danger again.

"Tha..Thank you, Aditya" I said slowly. "Thank you for helping me..to...realise the value of my life" I said. "Thank you for standing by my side silently and protecting me from even myself"

"You are strong, Varsha" Aditya said. "When my...family was murdered, It took almost 12 months for me to recover from the depression, I was living dead, I would have still been down if it was not Aditi, Who came back" he said.

"Your entire family was murdered, I am sorry Aditya, I couldn't even bear the pain of losing my dad, It would have been hard on you" I said.

"It was" He sighed. "Aditi couldn't even continue medicine, She couldn't watch blood and she often got panic attacks" he said. "She was a victim and witness then" He added. "So it's been more hard for her" He said. "She even had to change her major to business management" He said and I nodded.

Aditi is strong and self sufficient, But deep down, She's scarred too.

Aditya was still looking at me and I wanted to tell him the other things I wanted him to know.

That I can't accept his confession, Because I don't know if I am really capable of loving someone, It's not that I don't have any feelings for him, It's impossible not to reciprocate his love when he was not demanding or asking anything in return, He's been taking care of me silently and I too cannot deny it.

But what's holding me back is the changes in me.

I am no longer the same person in the past. Yes, I am stronger and unbreakable now.

So is my heart.

If it was not for the love I am getting from the friends around me, I am afraid that I would have turned to be a pure devil by now.

My heart and mind is filled with hatred and I am working with everyone to see the ultimate downfall of surya group.

So I can't be selfish to Aditya, I know that he deserves better.

"This revenge we are planning against surya group is everything to me" I said firmly. "My heart and mind is full of hatred and I have no space inside me to bring myself to love someone-"

"Varsha" He said. "I know what you are...thinking" He said as if reading my expression. "But please don't be burdened by me, I am not asking you for anything, All I want is to stand with you" He said.

But it really is not fair to you if I don't reject it directly.

"Aditya-" I stopped when we heard the happy squeal from outside.

"Izzy!"

Both of us smiled at her squeal and  the tensed situation and the dark moment was gone.

She was in great mood since shweta visited her yesterday with gifts and toys, But we heard that shweta had to leave right away as something important came up.

We heard her squeal again and walked outside.

Izzy was playing with shahid outside the house.

Ever since she reached near us, She has lightened up all of our worrisome life.

And the way shahid dot on her is really a wonder, He's doing everything he can to fill in the gap of jasmine too.

"Do you think we could ever be free?" I asked him when Aditya took the seat beside me on the steps, Facing outside "Do you think we could ever have a ordinary life like real people?"

"Be optimistic, If everything go fine this monday, Half of our problems will be solved" he said.

"Sometimes I feel that it will take a miracle for all of us to be safe in this fight against surya group" I admitted. "I even have nightmares now, I always see that something is happening to us and-"

"Miracles can happen, varsha" he said. "I have witnessed it" he looked at me. "I have seen your heart beating after it was stopped" He said and I stared at him.

I remembered that he was the one who treated me the first time I was taken to the hospital.

"I thought dying was better then" I said slowly. "It was actually you who channelled my anger the other way" I said. "I was disgusted at myself and I didn't want to live"

"All I saw then was a broken girl who needed help badly" I said. "And for the first time after so many years, My PTSD showed up again" he said.

"PTSD?" I asked him.

"Post traumatic stress disorder" He said. "I had treated it and I was fine until You came to the Emergency room, I don't know why it suddenly acted up, But when your heartbeat started again, I slowly became okay" He said and I was shocked at the news.

Now I understand what he said yesterday.

"So I was kind of curious about you, So imagine my shock when I heard that you kidnapped shahid from the hospital!" He said. "my most Critical patients disappeared overnight and I was going crazy!" He said and both of us laughed.

"I remember trisha also" He said. "She wanted to meet you and I was adamant that She cannot, I was judging her too harshly, She was trying to talk to you about surya group, I guess" he said.

Shahid walked to us and sat near.

"Trisha has a knack for surprising people" He said. "Remember that time she came to the apartment so fearlessly" Shahid asked and I nodded.

"I was going to stab her with the kitchen knife back then" I said. "Oh my God! It was not that long, But I feel like we have been together for ages"

"Daddy...the ball is missing!" Izzy shouted from the side.

"Wait for me" Shahid raised back. "I will take it for you" He said.

"Let me join you too, Izzy" Aditya got up too.

"Then I will join you too" I said. "It's girls vs boys " I shouted and Izzy laughed  delightfully.

"Look, Should we go and take a look at kitchen?" Shahid turned to us. "It's karthik and Aditi, I hope they won't kill each other"

"I am more worried if we will be starving today or not" Aditya shrugged. "I had been paired up with karthik once and he doesn't know much about cooking, And Aditi always depended on me to survive" He said.

"I think we have enough instant noodles though" I said.

"That's good" shahid said. "let's play then"

Aditi.

I sighed.

I know I am not much of a cook, But Compared to karthik, I could as well be passed as a chef!

And the worst part?

He really doesn't know he's doing it the wrong way!

"You are just prejudiced against me, puppy, I think there's nothing wrong with this" He said.

"It tastes weird, What did you add in this?" I asked him.

"Look, I have been working outside and We had to take care of our cooking too" He said matter of factly. "My subordinates never told me anything about my cooking, They all enjoyed my food" He said.

I don't know if I should laugh at that or feel sorry for them.

"Poor them" I laughed. "What about your seniors?" I asked him. "Did you cook for them too?"

"I was the one with highest ranking in my batch" He said. "I surpassed them...But now that I think about it, I always ended up going for grocery shopping or chopping" He looked at me with a sudden realisation.

"You mean, My cooking is that bad!?" he asked me.

"Bingo!" I smiled, Happy at waking him up. "And if I am right, Your subordinates would have tried their maximum to keep you away from the kitchen too" I said.

Karthik had a thoughtful look.

"That's expected because they respect me!" He said. "I mean...It's true that I cooked only when it was absolutely necessary, But Since I was their leader, I didn't have to split chores with them" He said.

"The great STO can be not so bright too!" I laughed merrily at his confusion.

"That's why Aditya put me to cut the vegetables when I was with him?..And varsha! She said She don't like anyone sharing the kitchen with her while she's cooking!" He exclaimed indignantly.

"Happy realisation, Karthik" I laughed.

"Hey!" Karthik said suddenly. "I think it's the first time you are calling me by my name" He said. "I like it"

"Please don't start again" I groaned.

"But we are really perfect for each other" He said. "Nobody dared to tell me the truth before, you are the only one I can trust to-"

"Look Karthik, I am honestly not looking for a relationship" I said. "And we are not compatible at all"

"Why do you think so?" he asked me. "I think we are perfect for each other" he said.

"Don't play around-hey!"

He had turned me around to face him.

"Do you know, You are the only one I have ever been attracted to" He said. "Physically and mentally!" He said.

Physically!

He's going to get from me!

He was still holding on to my left elbow to keep me in place.

"Let go!" I ordered. "I am not in a mood to play romeo and juliet with you" I told him firmly. "And You are mistaken, I am not at all attracted to you-" I stopped as I slammed to his chest.

He was looking at me challengingly and I tried to push him off, In vain.

"Let go" I warned. "I was nice all these time" I told him.

"Me too" He said. "You are my friend's sister, It's against the rules to make a move on you" He said. "But I want to make something clear today" He said.

And my heart jumped at his words.

I raised the fork in his direction.

"Let go of me" I told him again. "Or I will stab you" I said.

He smirked and took a step closer to me, My heart leaped again as I understood what he's going to do.

-----------------------